Esophagus dialation

I had my lap band surgery about 4 years ago. I lost 40-50 pounds in the first year, then things slowed for me. I went in for several adjustments. It seemed as though I was super sensitive to the slightest adjustment. I would feel like I could eat anything I wanted with no restriction. I would go in for a fill and adding just the smallest amount would restrict me so much I couldn't even swallow water. I fought with this sensitivity for over two years, never really finding the right set point. Then about a year ago, I began gaining all my weight back. The Doc I was using no longer does the surgury or adjustments. I went to a new clinic and did a barium swallow under the xray. He was shocked to see that my esophagus was 3 times the size it should be. He opened my band completely and I had to wait 6 months for my esophagus to go back to normal size. Then we started over, adding a little at a time and the super sensitivity begins again. We finally find a good spot and I begin loosing a little and my esophagus dialates again. Back to square one, with no fill. This has been my life with the lap band. It has been at least 6 months since I have been back to the doc. not loosing any weight and not feeling much constriction. He said if I came back again with a dialated esophagus he would have to take the band out.

I have looked and researched and am unable to find much information about this problem. Don't know if it is my fault, or my bodies reaction to the band.

Anyone ever heard of this?

I am soooooo disappointed.

Please continue working with your doctor. They are still assembling data on the long term effects of the band. From what I understand what you are experiencing is not uncommon. I was diagnosed the an esophagus dialation... now I have a slipped band.

We have an implanted device inside our bodies and it is important that we take good care of ourselves.

Each of our bodies reacts differently to the band. I don't believe you did anything wrong. I'm sorry you are having a difficult time. I can appreicate the feelings of disapointment that are coming forward. I can relate. I'm realizing now that I have to come up with Plan B and I have no idea what that is at this time.

Lots of Light and Prayers to you!

Starrgirrl

Hi-

At one point I was rather tight... it didn't last too long because I went for an unfill. Then I was at a good point for a while. However every once in awhile I would still PB. I began gaining weight and noticing that I could eat quite a bit more, so I thought I needed a fill. At the time, I had to go to a new doctor as our insurance company had changed. The new doctor first wanted to see my band under floro. That's when they saw the dilation. It had been over a year since I'd seen my prior doctor.

A few weeks later I had a really bad episode with stuck food. It was awful and resulted in painful hiccups that caused me to feel intense pain at the band site. It really concerned me, but the doctor examined me and didn't find anything unusual. However he didn't look under floro. Instead we waited to see if the pain resolved. I now suspect that this is when the band might have begun slipping.

My symptoms are being able to eat quite a bit more and acid reflux at night.

The only way to really tell what is going on is to have it checked under floro. It's an easy test and reveals volumes about what is going on.

Lots of light to you!

Thanks for your note. I have had no other symptons or pain. It just seems as though my esophogus has become my new stomach.

Hi my name is Michelle and I just went and had Fluro today. I have a 9cc band and took forever to loss any weight and finally had lost 50lbs after 14 months. Then it stopped. I went for a fill last early Dec and felt like I had an unfill. THen went back in Jan and the put 1/2cc in and that gave me 9cc. This was done by a Dr. that had joined the practice because my Dr was not available on all the days I could go to the office. So since Jan I have restriction but went up 3lbs and have noticed I can eat more and more. I do occassionally PB but only if I try to do solids and fluid together.
So I went in today and found out I am dialated. I wanted to start crying on the table. I did not know what to think of ask. I just sat there and watched. I had so much restriction I dont know how anything went thru. I take meds every night at bed time and they are meds I truly need to keep my immune system working and joint pain under control. I have no idea how they every make it thru. THe Dr. had a panic look but just said he has never seen that much restriction and not warning signs.
I feel so stupid. How could I have not known? My fear when I got the band is that something would go wrong and they would take my band. today was like my biggest fear coming true. They didn't take my band but he did an unfill. Yes only 1 cc but who is to say this is going to fix itself or that it can. What am I going to do. THis is the first thing that has helped me loss weight.
What is your Dr.'s plan?
My Dr. wants me to see a Diatician, which makes me feel like this is really my falt. Which cant see me until Aug 29th. THen I see my Dr again on Sept 5th. Im freaked right now.
I hope we get answers soon.

Hang in there and I will try to also.....

Michelle,
I understand your frustration. My Doc also indicate that I was somewhat responsible and sent me to the diatition. . . over a year ago! My argu ment is this ... with esophagus dilation, you don't feel any restriction, because you esophagus basically becomes your new stomach. A dietition is not the answer. This problem exists because our bands were too tight. the answer is to loosen your band and allow your esophagus to go back to normal size. Mine did twice! the problem is that when they begin to tighten enough for me to feel restriction, my esophagus begins to dilate again. I feel as though it is a no win situation. The answer I am looking for is .... "would a repositioning of the band help?"

Don't let the doc get away with making you feel like this is your fault. Remember, if we were able to eat small amounts of food with no feelings of restriction, why would we have needed a lap band?

Keep your chin up and keep searching for the answer. Someone knows! It is not our fault. This is a fluke in the proceedure.

Do you know if there are any website where you can actually talk or ask questions to a lap band doc?

Kathy

I do not know of any sites you can go to. I am wondering why they do not require after every 3 or so fills that they have people do a fill under fluro. It would really help to know if this problem started with my last fill or which one. Also is it that we have issues with weaker esophaguses or is it the related to the band.
Also I do feel better when I eat today. I do actually feel fuller after food then I had been. I think the food is getting into my stomach and so its not growling like it was. I will keep you all posted on my experience. Please do the same and share any sites you find that will help us understand what is going on with our band.
Hand in there and I will do the same.

Finally I have found someone that has gone through this...I feel so defeated at this point because for 10 mths. everything was fine and then 1 day BAM! I started throwing up 5, 6, 7 times per day...Esophagram, Upper GI and 3 office visits later no diagnosis. Specialist appt. next week for some type of esoph. swallow study..I feel like what's next??? I haven't had any saline in my band for about 6 wks now and it doesn't seem to be resolving itself.

I am 4 yrs out and my experience with esophagus dilation, also called pouch dilatation, is the exact same as yours. This is very important information for you to take to your doctor. My doctors are at Emory in Atlanta, GA, highly experienced with hundereds of these cases. Dilation can fix itself from and unfill and patients can be refilled again sometimes with success. The most important thing is that my surgeons told me that it is almost impossible for even the most experienced surgeon to detect a true slip on a barium swallow test. I had dilatation also but have also been confirmed with a slip. The doctor says corrective surgery for revision and/or replacement is mandantory as this is an "unhealthy band" situation and I am at medical risks of serious complications. He said that when the wall is weakened there is usually always a slip involved and that revision is necessary to correct this situation. By the way, my niece also had pouch dilatation after 2 yrs and is now being refilled. I'm waiting for her to have a fluro or 2 down the line to see if she also stretches out again. I have had 2 surgeons now say I have slipped in addition to the pouch and esophagus dilation and must have surgery. No one wants to but at least now I understand what is wrong and they are going to do everything they can to revise it. There is a chance of losing the band when trying to revise due to difficulty in securing in back into place but the surgeons are confident that can do it.
Do not be fooled into thinking that this is all your fault. Good surgeons know not to over fill nor to allow patients to go too long too tight and also to look at patients regularly under fluro or barium swallow to look for signs of dilatation. I would absolutely get another opinion form a very experienced surgeon. Do not fool around with a chance of losing your band with a surgeon that does not seem committed to helping you keep it if this is what your want. Most are willing to tell your their success rate with revision and whether or not they are confident with your case. I'm sorry this has happened but I've been there and did not give up and was extremely happy when I got such a tremendous load of great information from 2 very experienced surgeons at Emory in Atlanta plus one amazing senior surgical resident who explained how slips cannot be always detected on the upper gi. Please let me know if I can help your further with more info.
I have gained 45 lbs . this last yr due to this situation and was also going from one extreme to the other too tight and throwing up to too loose with only a .25 cc change.

Thanks for you response GeorgiaP...I am kinda in a rock and hard place..I haven't seen my surgeon since the day of my surgery which was 7-31-07. I have only been able to see his P.A. and now he is no longer at the surgery center that I originally went to..Transferred all info to his private office thinking "yeah" this will probably be much better however I am now seeing another P.A. ---She is very knowledgeable and also has a band so in some strange way I feel safer with her. Insurance changed and I did call around prior to going back to MD and no other doc will touch me if revision is required. I think I have mixed feelings about the band at this point...I know that I have struggled with not letting myself over think this situation...what if this what if that...so I discussed with hubby and of course it's like whatever you want to do I'm gonna support you..I don't think that I would have another band placed if it came down to it..I don't know what I would do but after listening to all of you guys I don't think I have it in me to go thru all this again. I never wanted to be "skinny"..just a regular size without an X or a W behind it..haha
I have a terrible fear that I will regain the weight that I have already lost...My challenge each day is to not get frustrated and resort to chips and candy bar...because of course I have no problems eating junk food.
Again thanks for your input.

am having similar problems and am in Texas. Who is your doc??? I wound up in the ER cause I couldn't get in with my doc when I told them I had a problem. Now I have a slip and don't know what to do...
Would love to talk to you one on one. Your doc situation sounds amazingly similar to mine...

I have a feeling I might be dialated. I'm at 4 cc in a 4 cc band and no restriction. I've never really been tight just good restriction until recently. I feel like I can eat anything. I've gained about 10 lbs and feel like total crap. I need to get back on track but it's really hard without the restriction. I haven't dieted the whole time it took me to lose 80 lbs. They did flouro on me in May and did not see any signs of dialation but they did have a very hard time accessing my port (took about 10 stabs).

Any suggestions or comments to help me out?